Developing Six Objects to be Used to Protect Individuals from Swine Flu - Term Paper Example

Title: Swine Flu Customer Inserts His/her Name Customer Inserts Name of Tutor Customer Inserts Grade/Course (Date) Introduction Swine Influenza is reparatory disease caused by type A influenza virus that causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs ( Peiris, Poon & Guan 2009). Direct exposure to pigs has resulted to human beings being infected with swine flu. It is said to spread from person to person through coughing or even sneezing of people with influenza. Even touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching the mouth and the nose also facilitate the contact of this virus. Having a breakout of swine flu in Australia, bearing in mind how detrimental it is to the health, having ample knowledge about what it is, how it is transmitted and the measures to take to protect one and family against it is very vital. Purpose The purpose of this article is to develop six objects to be used to protect individuals from swine flu. Accurate protection against this flu can result to non infections even when the outbreak is severe throughout the region. Scope This document highlights the number of necessary issues that can be employed to protect oneself and family against swine flu. More objects and measures maybe identified in the document also. It is intended for families and partners in the whole of Australia where swine flu has been reported. Swine flu protection Swine flu has been referred to as a global outbreak for in its occurrence, many countries and populations will be at risk of the disease and illness. Pandemic influenza occurs when there is a new strain of influenza virus; the virus infects humans and causes serious illness and when the virus can spread by human to human contact. Swine flu has been classified as a phase 4 on the pandemic alert scale. This is the level at which the virus has sustained verified human to human transmission. It has been noted that, swine flu spreads easily from one person to the other through infected respiratory droplets which are exhaled through coughing, breathing and sneezing into the air. They remain airborne for a while and then settle on surfaces. Inhaling them or even touching the surfaces with these droplets, one can contact flu. In the same case, it has been reported that, a person with this virus can be transmitted even before they exhibit any flu like symptoms. This virus can be transmitted from one day before exhibiting the symptoms and seven days after symptoms develop. Protection Objects Good Health, safe Hygiene products Good hygiene amongst the family members is very vital. Influenza is said to be easily spread through handling contaminated surfaces (Sinha 2009). This means that, at any one given time, there should be hand wash detergents or alcohol based cleansers which facilitate substantial hand washing activity. Washing hands frequently after using the rest room, handling mean is very important. Everybody in the house has to have frequent and thorough washing of hands by applying soap to wet hands, washing under the nails must be advocated. One must rub the hands together for a period not less than 20 seconds and rinse them well. Upon washing hands, in the box there has to be disposable paper towel to dry the hands and also turn off the faucet. This is to avoid any contact between the family members for the virus can be transmitted even before the symptoms are present. Good health has to be maintained whatever the case. Eating nutritious foods, drinking plenty of fluids, getting enough sleep and maintaining physical activity is also very vital and must be incorporated in the day to day live for the family. Cleaning and disinfecting detergents Literature confirms that, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in homes can help prevent the spread of the flu virus (Sinha 2009). This is the reason that there has to be cleaning and disinfecting materials readily available in the house so as there can be frequent cleansing of surfaces. It is worth noting that, hard surfaces like kitchen countertops, tabletops, bathroom surfaces must be frequently cleaned and disinfected. The toilet is being used by all members of the family. Upon any single use, thorough cleaning and disinfecting is essential not to leave anything to chance. Prevention is better than cure and therefore cleaning and disinfecting these places can never be compromised if protection required is to be realized. Those places touched by more than one person must be cleaned and disinfected. Doorknobs, refrigerator doors handle and microwaves just to mention but a few must be cleansed and disinfected each and every now and then. It is worth noting that, this washing is not necessarily when the surface are not visibly dirty. This has to be a routine whether they are dirty or not. For example, EPA registered products which are well label claims against influenza A is the most commonly used against H1N1 virus strain (Sinha 2009). Hydro force disinfectant surface cleaner is also said to be effective against influenza A virus Strain. H1F1 virus can survive in an environment for 24-28 hours, 8-12 hours on cloth, paper and tissue and 5 Minutes on hands. During this time, they can be transmitted to other people through touching contaminated surfaces and objects and then touching the mouth, nose and eyes. Cleaning everywhere and hands will help in curbing the virus. Disposable tissues/paper tissues When a member of the family is sneezing or coughing, the mouth and the nose has to be covered with a tissue which must be disposed after use. Many people state that, when one is sneezing, he/she may use her elbow or the sleeve (Ito & Kawaoka 2000). This will mean that in case there are viruses then it will be easily transmitted to the others. But when a tissue is used and disposed, then the family will be protected against the virus. When a tissue is used, there are issues that would be detrimental that are addressed. When the mouth and the nose are covered with a tissue when coughing and sneezing, then the other family members are prevented from getting the virus is any. When touching the cough and sneeze directly with the hands and then touching other surfaces and then touching other surfaces, eyes and nose, then it will be very hard to contain the virus. Masks Masks have not been recommended by public health officials as effective protective measures but they are very essential. Bearing in mind that there has been a declaration of swine flu in our region, masks are very vital and must be used. When one member of the family need to go to out in public, for instance the grocery store or to the supermarket, then one must have his/her mask on. Masks or respirators must be made available to all members and must be won whenever moving outside the compound. The other main reason why this masks are essential when moving out of the house is that, one is at high risk of coming into contact with a person with the virus. However, the most required mask is the respirator which has been discovered to have an efficiency of nearly 90% (CDC., 2009). Their penetration efficiency and particle load which is characterized by the fabrication material is very commendable and is must be present if at all the protection required will have to be achieved Preventive drugs Coming into contact with the virus when an outbreak has been declared has a high probability. This therefore means that, having oseltamivir or zanamivir drugs for prevention of swine influenza is very vital. This are that has been associated with the prevention of influenza A and B from multiplying in the body by interfering with their production and release of the virus from cells that line the respiratory tract. In actual facts, this slows the infection within the airways and the lungs (Fuyuno 2007) In the same case, there has to be close monitoring of the members health for a close to 10 days. In case there are symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and troubled breathing amongst any family member, then medical care in a medical facility will be sought immediately. Educative and informative materials In a family that is looking forward to protecting against swine flu, information and education is very vital so that they can take the initiative themselves. This therefore means that, there has to be substantial information in the house which is disseminating all the required information about swine flu. Magazines and pamphlets which are educative on all the measures applied towards protecting the family must be readily available (Team 2009). The family members are also required to be aware of the measures they have to personally adhere to so as to ensure that all are protected. For example, personal hygiene is very vital, from washing hands, disposing the tissues, not coughing and sneezing directly, disinfecting and cleaning all surfaces are issues that must be undertaken by all members without any supervision. S to achieve this, then they must be aware of the consequences of not obeying all the requirements and the risk they might expose themselves to incase they do contrary to the requirements. Additionally, all this activities which are aimed towards ensuring that swine flu is kept out of the family is not a one man show. Everybody must be involved and information is required to ensure that no procedure is compromised and everybody gets involved in everything. When using these objects, there are issues that might arise. For example, the washing detergents and how they should be mixed might be essential. However, not all members are aware on the procedure of using these detergents. A simple mistake on mixing and using the detergents may result to hazardous effects and even may be risky to the family members. In the same case, the drugs used may result to certain allergic effects among the members. The other issue is the process of ensuring that every corner is cleaned and washed frequently. This may look like a bother to the members and the young might opt to protesting or even doing it haphazardly. However, ensuring that they all have an understanding of the reason as to why we as a family has to undergo all this process is very vital. When all family members understand and synthesize the purpose of all these activities, and the repercussions of not adhering to the same, then it will be very easy for them to comply and make the whole process a success. I am very sure that, when they are all informed and everybody is made to understand the responsibility they owe to each other, then wit will be very easy to implement the preventive measures and at the same time have them have hand on interventions in each and every measure. Conclusion The spread of swine flu from person to person is achieved through coughing or even sneezing of people with influenza and also touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching the mouth and the nose also facilitate the contact of this virus. To protect the family against the virus, then Good hygiene amongst the family members must be adhered to. Influenza is said to be easily spread through handling contaminated surfaces. This means that, at any one given time, there should be hand wash detergents or alcohol based cleansers which facilitate substantial hand washing activity, and making sure that family members wash their hands each and every now and then, mostly after visiting areas which are common to other members. In the same case, it has been noted that hard surfaces like kitchen countertops, tabletops, and bathroom surfaces must be frequently cleaned and disinfected. Most importantly, the toilet is being used by all members of the family and therefore cleaning and disinfecting this place should never be compromised. Every member has to use disposable tissue when coughing and sneezing, later dispose it to avoid any transmission amongst the members. In the same case, when any members have to go to public areas, then they must have masks on to avoid any contamination. Preventive drugs must also be available just in case there are any traces of the symptoms amongst the members or even when there is a need to travel for work or any other issue, and then they have to be immunized. To make sure that they all own up to the process and to all the activities, they will have to be armed with all the required information and education so that they can do it effectively. When all these factors are implemented, then the spread of H1F1 virus will be curbed and most importantly, the family will be safe from the virus. References Malik .S.Peiris, LeoL.M.Poon & Yi Guan, 2009. Emergence of anove lswine-originin?uenza Avirus(S-OIV)H1N1 virusin humans. Journal of Clinical Virology, Volume 45, pp. 169 173. Fuyuno, I., 2007. Tamiuside effects come under scrutiny. Nature, Volume 446, pp. 35-89.. Ito T & Kawaoka,Y, 2000. Host-range barrier o fin?influenza A viruses.. Vet Microbiol, Volume 74, pp. 7-15.. Prevention., C. f. D. C. a., 2009. Swine Influenza A(H1N1) infection in two children-Southern California. MMWR, Volume 58, pp. 400-402. Sinha, M., 2009. Swine Flu. Journal of Infection and Public Health, Volume 2, pp. 157-166. Team., N. S.-O. I. A. (. V. I., 2009. Emergence of a novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus in humans.. N Eng J Med , Volume 361, pp. 2605-15.. Read More